The Power of Discernment: Seeking Truth Beyond Assumptions

||Rhema for the Week||

Job 1:8 – Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant, Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is blameless—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Job 8:4 – Your children must have sinned against him, so their punishment was well deserved.
Job 11:6 b – Listen! God is doubtless punishing you far less than you deserve!

One day, the members of the heavenly court presented themselves before the Lord, and Satan, the Accuser, came with them. During this assembly, God proudly spoke of His servant Job, expressing His delight in Job’s faithfulness. However, Satan questioned Job’s loyalty, suggesting that Job’s devotion was merely a result of his blessings. With God’s permission, Satan inflicted severe trials upon Job. Tragically, what Job feared most came upon him.
In the aftermath, Job’s friends, Bildad, Eliphaz, and Zophar, visited to console him. Yet, instead of offering comfort, they speculated that Job’s suffering was a consequence of his sins. Bildad implied that Job’s children perished due to their wrongdoing, while Zophar argued that Job deserved even greater punishment.

Their harsh judgments painted God as a punishing figure rather than a compassionate Father. Job, overwhelmed by pain and frustration, cursed the day he was born and labeled his friends “miserable comforters” (Job 16:2).
A significant reflection arises from this story: What if Job had sought the Lord for insight instead of engaging in fruitless debates? While Job’s anguish may have clouded his judgment, a moment of discernment could have revealed the truth. Similarly, what if his friends had possessed the discernment to seek divine wisdom rather than rely on flawed assumptions? Like Prophet Micaiah, who witnessed the spiritual realm and discerned the presence of a lying spirit among prophets, Job’s friends could have sought understanding about the heavenly events that led to his trials.

This narrative prompts us to ask: How discerning are we about our current situations? Do we understand the root causes of our challenges, or are we making surface-level judgments? Additionally, do we have people around us who can stand with us in prayer and seek God’s perspective when we are too weak to do so? The spirit of discernment allows us to uncover the ‘why’ behind our circumstances and guides us toward the right actions.
For every difficulty you face, ask God for discernment. Don’t be like Job and his friends, trapped in assumptions. Instead, seek divine understanding and surround yourself with discerning companions who speak about life, truth, and solutions over your situation.

Further reading: Job 1-16, Proverbs 2:3-6, Philippians 1:9-11

Written by Grace Iyiola

KOK Insights